The Art of Puppetry Has One Marietta Actress Soaring

Romp with the Lost Boys, rescue Princess Tigerlily, and battle the nefarious Captain Hook in Peter Pan. But this isn't the same story of Peter and his friends that you know.

The Center for Puppetry Arts' play is done with blacklight puppetry, projected animations and filmed shadow puppetry. The puppets are about a foot-and-a-half tall.

"The story especially of Peter Pan is beloved by a lot of different ages and brings adults as well as kids to the show," Allison Murphy, a Marietta resident and a member of the cast, said.

Murphy is taking up the strings as Wendy in this production.

"Wendy's kind of the eyes that you see the show through. You are having the same kind of experiences she is, seeing Neverland for the first time, flying for the first time, that sort of thing."

"There are a lot of surprises with these shows. It's not your traditional puppets if you're thinking puppets are socks on people's hands."

The show, which is approximately 65 minutes long, features an original score by Jeffrey Butzer with an array of musical instruments including the accordion, toy piano, saxophone, cello, flute, guitar, glockenspiel and more.

"I came here to see a show one day, and I thought it was awesome," Murphy said. "Now I've been working here six years off and on."

Murphy says puppetry is a lot like other forms of theater. "You still have to think. People have to believe what you're doing whether you've got a puppet or not."

However, Murphy admits that the dress code can be a bit of a hassle. "It's a lot of physical work sometimes. You're dressed all in black, your faces are covered, and you're running around in the dark backstage doing all sorts of things with large puppets in your hands."

While the productions are targeted toward children ages four and up, there's something for everyone. "We get adults that love the stories and just want to come all the time."

Some families even dress up in costumes for the shows, making the productions an interactive experience.

"Having this audience so willing to go there with you, hearing the kids really get into these characters and hearing them laugh because they do something silly" is the most rewardng part.

Murphy said the most rewarding part of puppetry is "having this audience so willing to go there with you, hearing the kids really get into these characters and hearing them laugh because they do something silly."

She admits that she loves puppets herself. "I've always been interested (in puppetry)," Murphy said. "I grew up watching Fraggle and those kind of things, but it never occurred to me that this could be a job. Outside of The Muppets, this never seemed like an option, but it's great."

This is Murphy's sixth show with the theater. She has also played Rudolph in the Christmas show as well as characters in Beauty and the Beast and the Velveteen Rabbit.

"There are a lot of surprises with these shows," Murphy said. "It's not your traditional puppets if you're thinking puppets are socks on people's hands."

One of the benefits of puppetry is that "you can do stuff that you can't normally do," such as flying with Peter Pan, outwitting pirates and facing crocodiles.

"There's so much action going on with the sword fights and the crocodile," Murphy said. "It moves quickly."

Audiences don't have to end their day after the show. Kids can make their own Cranky Crocodile Hand Puppet and explore the museum of the Center for Puppetry Arts, which is included in the show ticket price.

The adaptation of J.M. Barrie's children's book is directed by Michael Haverty. The play will run through May 27.

Showtimes

• Tuesday through Friday: 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• Saturday: 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
• Sunday 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Single show tickets, which include Create-A-Puppet Workshop and Museum:

• Member: $9.25
• Non-Member: $16.50

Ticket Sales: 404-873-3391

1404 Spring St. NW at 18th, Atlanta, GA

The nonprofit the Center for Puppetry Arts has 719 performances a year, about 13 shows a week. Unlike most puppet companies, the Center for Puppetry Arts does not travel. They are the second largest theater in Atlanta.

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